The Edmonton Oilers first overall pick in 2012, who never found a home here after his rookie season during the NHL lockout when he had 17 goals in 48 games for coach Ralph Krueger was dealt to the St. Louis Blues on Friday for some stocking stuffers: prospect right-winger Zach Pochiro — who was once a fourth-round pick in 2013, who played in the WHL for the Prince George Cougars and was in the ECHL last year with the Quad City Mallards — and a conditional third-round draft pick.

The third becomes a second in 2018 if Yakupov scores 15 goals in St. Louis.

“It’s a good thing for me, last couple of days, rumours. I didn’t expect St. Louis but it’s good move for me, playing on one of the best teams in the league,” said Yakupov in a conference call. “I don’t know why it didn’t work in Edmonton. Good question. I guess it was the wrong place. Maybe coaches didn’t like me or someone else. Honestly, hard to answer.

“I’ve had a lot of pressure in my head. The conversations going every day affects your game. I’ve never had the opportunity to play on the best teams. First time I’m going to play on a really, really good team, in the playoffs pretty much every year.”

The Oilers are giving Yakupov away. A sad indictment, really.

But they are taking the saved $2.5-million salary because the Blues are paying it all, and they’ve signed left-shooting free-agent defenceman Kris Russell to a one-year, $3.1-million deal.

Divesting themselves of Yakupov is addition by subtraction. The coaches had little trust in the Russian forward, especially defensively, although that part of his game improved. Unfortunately, he didn’t do enough offensively to offset his work without the puck. Just 50 goals in four years, and the Oilers feel they can get 15 goals a year from tryout winger Kris Versteeg if they sign him for the their third line.

Still, a first overall pick for virtually nothing? Presumably the market was set last trade deadline when the Oilers talked of getting average D-man Eric Gelinas from New Jersey Devils, but the Devils moved Gelinas to Colorado instead for a third-round pick.

Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli said he wouldn’t be talking about the Yakupov deal until Saturday morning at Rogers Place. But Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said talks had heated up Thursday with the Chicago Blackhawks also in the picture.

“He’s got the skill to complement our group and the game is trending to younger, faster players,” said Armstrong. “We felt it was worth the, I don’t want to say gamble, because it’s a former first (overall), but I think he probably needs a change of scenery. It seemed to be a short and long-term risk worth taking.”

Yakupov had a strong game Thursday, throwing his body around, checking hard, setting up a goal by fourth-liner Tyler Pitlick when he found himself there after starting the game with centre Drake Caggiula and winger Patrick Maroon before Caggiula hurt his hip.

After Thursday’s win over the Winnipeg Jets, McLellan was effusive in his praise of Yakupov.

“He’s a very talented player who has a tremendous amount of skill,” said McLellan. “When he does find common linemates, we’ll have a really good player.”

That was the problem with Yakupov, who was great in the community — one day he took a homeless person into a downtown restaurant and told him to order whatever he wanted — but had trouble on the ice. Trying to find a regular line for him was a soap opera. His best work came with Connor McDavid before he was hurt in Carolina last fall when he tumbled over a linesman off a face-off and hurt his leg. Mind you, the Zamboni driver might get points with McDavid.

McLellan was of the belief that a first overall pick should make other players better. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case here.

Now the Blues, who made it to the Western Conference final and who lost two forwards — David Backes and Troy Brouwer to free-agency — and have long had trouble scoring on the rush, have Yakupov, who teases you.

He’s got talent and he can shoot but questions about his hockey smarts have always dogged him. Playing with other people on his line and where to go to complement them, and when Yakupov doesn’t have the puck and has to get it out of his end.

But the Oilers are giving away the first overall pick, which hammers home they should have taken defenceman Ryan Murray (Columbus) or Morgan Rielly (Toronto) with the first pick in 2012.

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